Angle adapter



Oct. 21, 1941. F, BRYANT HAL 2,259,999

ANGLE ADAPTER Filed Sept. 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventors:-

FPank D. Brgant, William F8.Yc ung Their Attorney u. 9 w 9 Mm mw w 5 2, m O JJHW 2 e t 2 e k m m JWMT Oct. 21, 1941. F D BRYANT ETAL I ANGLE ADAPTER Flled Sept 27 1959 Patented Oct. 21, 1941 ANGLE ADAPTER Frank D. Bryant, Stratford, and William R. Young, Fairfield, Conn, assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application September 27, 1939, Serial No. 296,786

14 Claims.

This invention relates to an adapter for electric lamps, or the like, and more particularly to an adapter which permits the lamp to be moved or focused to a variety of angular positions with respect to the support or socket in which the lamp is mounted.

It is an object of the invention to provide an adapter of the type described which permits a relatively large angular movement of the lamp and which is of a rugged construction such that it maybe used to support a relatively heavy lamp, for example, a reflector lamp.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an adapter so constructed that a plurality of lamps, or like electrical devices, may be mounted thereon, each of which is movable through a variety. of angular positions independently'of the other.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a view of the adapter with a reflector lamp mounted thereon; Fig. 2 is a sectional View through the adapter; Fig. 3 is another sectional view through the adapter taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the elements of 'the adapter; Fig. 5 is a view of the adapter showing the range of angular adjustment in one plane;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the adapter showing the range of angular adjustment. in another plane, and Fig. 7 is a view of the adapter provided with a plurality of supports or receptacles for a plurality of electric lamps,'or the like.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an adapter l constructed in accordance with this invention and which supports an electric lamp I I, for example, a reflector lamp or spot light. The adapter comprises a plug member l2 supporting a ring-like member or annulus l3 on which is mounted a receptacle I 4 for receiving the base of the lamp. The annulus is rotatably mounted on the plug member while the receptacle in turn is slidable along the periphery of the annulus. By providing these adjustments in two diverse planes of'movement, it is possible to move the lamp to any one of a wide variety of angular positions relative to the support or socket into which the plug I2 is seated.

Turning to the construction of the adapter, the plug member I2 is formed with a base l of insulating material such as a molded plastic. At one end the base is provided with a threaded screw shell I6 held in position by an insulating disk I! of porcelain, or the like, which, in turn, is mounted on the base by means of a centrally disposed rivet or drive pin l8. The rivet l8 forms the center contact of the plug base and cooper:

ates with the screw shell in providing contact means for engagement with a socket or receptacle into which the plug is to be mounted. In order to provide a mounting surface for the annulus I3, the upper portion of the plug l2 on the side opposite the center contact I8 is formed with a circular recess IS. A well 20 extends downwardly within the body of the plug base and is formed with a lateral slot 2| in the wall thereof. A shoulder 22 is formed at the junction of the circular recess l9 and well 20. The purpose of the well is to provide a suitable recess for the reception of the head of the drive pin or rivet l8 and, in addition, to provide a housing for a conducting pin 23 which is seated within an opening 24 in the head of the drive pin i8. A conducting strip 25 rests in the slot 2| and at one end is electrically connected to the screw shell l6.- At the other end, the strip is formed with a bentover bearing surface 26 for a purpose to be described later. The conducting pin 23 and conducting strip 25 are held in spaced relation with in the well 20 by means of a disk of insulating material 21 which rests on the shoulder 22. To accomplish this .purpose, the conducting pin 23 extends through an opening 28 centrally of the insulating plate, while the conducting strip 25 extends through a corresponding opening 23 which is formed in the outer edge of the plate in line with the slot 2|. In order to hold the insulating plate securely in position on the shoulder 22, it is keyed into the base by means of a tang 30 which rests in a slot 3! formed in the wall 01 the recess 22. The conducting pin 23 and the conducting strip 25 form part of a means electrically to interconnect the contact elements of the plug I base with the annulus l3 inafter described.

The annulus 13 comprises two ring-like members 32 of insulating material, for example, a molded plastic, and each one is provided with a recess 33 to receive the conducting rings or members 34 and 35. The inner edges 36 formed by the recesses 33 of the members 32 extend outwardly further than the outer edges 31 so that as the two insulatingmembers are placed together the edges 36 are in engagement with each other, as shown at 38 in Fig. 3, while the outer edges are normally spaced apart from each other as shown at 39 in Figs. 3 and 6. The space 39 provides a path to the conducting rings 34 and 35 and makes it possible for the receptacle M to be electrically connected to the conducting rings in a manner to be described later. The annulus formed by mating of the insulating members 32 in a manner to be heresembly of these elements together.

is provided in a portion of its periphery with a shoulder having a curved surface 4! for mounting in the circular recess IQ of the plug base. A recess 42 is formed on the shoulder adjacent the curved surface M to receive two semicircular locking rings or plates 43 which hold the annulus in position on the plug base. After assembly of the annulus upon the plug base the two locking rings 43 are simply slipped into the recess 42 and are then secured to the plug base by screws 44 which pass through openings 45 in the plug base into the complementary openings 46 in the locking plates. Inthis manner the annulus is securely held in position on the base and may be easily rotated thereon with the curved surface 4| resting in the recess l9, while the locking plates 43 are seated in the recess 42 and the edge of the shoulder resting upon the locking plates. As shown most clearly by Fig. 3, each of the locking plates 43 is provided with a recess 43 to receive a leaf spring 4'! which takes up any play in these elements and insures a close fit between the locking plates and the shoulder on the annulus. provided with strengthening ribs 48 adjacent the shoulder 40 and these ribs are given a curved contour so that they streamline into the form of the plug base making a construction having a pleasing. appearance.

In order to make electrical connection with the contact elements of the plug base, the conducting ring '34 is provided with an ear 49 having an opening 50 therein which receives a pointed end 5| of the conducting pin 23. Similarly, the conducting ring 35 is provided with an extending ear or bearing surface 52 which is adapted to engage a conducting ring 53, the latter being held in a recess 54 interiorly of the shoulder 40. .The conducting ring 53 is assembled between the two parts of the annulus. An

opening 55 in the ring 53 is made large enough.

so that the conducting pin 23 will extend therethrough without danger of .making contact with the ring and the pin is retained in position by the guide jaws 55' extending from each half of the annulus. In this manner the conducting pin 23 is insulated from the conducting ring53. In assembled'position, the bearing surfaces 52 and 26 of the conducting ring 35 and the conducting strip 25, respectively, are in frictional engagement with the conducting ring 53 so that the conducting ring 35 is electrically connected to the conducting strip 25 and thereby the screw shell l6. As the annulus and conducting rings are rotated .about the plug base, the bearing sur- The two parts of the annulus are face or ear 52 makes continuous contact with the conducting ring 53 and is therefore at all times in electrical connection with the screw shell l6;

similarly, theear 49 of the conducting ring 34 is at all times in contact with the conducting pin 23 and thereby the center contact l8, irrespective of the position to which the annulus has been rotated. o

The receptacle I4 is provided with a two-part housing 56 made of insulating material, for example, a molded plastic, and the two parts of the housing are assembled together on each side of the annulus by means of any suitable fastening means, such as the bolt 51. Each of the in- III leaf spring 59 rests in a portion of the slots 58 and biases the annulus against the walls of the slots so that a frictional fit is obtained between these elements making it possible for the receptacle to be retained in any position to which it ismoved and, at the same time, to provide for free angular movement of the receptacle around the periphery of the annulus. In order to make electrical connection with the base of the lamp, the receptacle is provided with a screw shell 60 having inturned. edges 6! and the screw shell is mounted in a recess 62 formed in the insulating body 56 with the inturned edges 6| resting on the bottom of the recess. Holes 64 in the walls of the screw shell and corresponding projections 65 in the walls of the receptacle houing lock the screw shell in position and prevent it from being turned upon insertion of a lamp base. The screw shell is easily assembled in position due to the fact that the housing is made in two parts and may be assembled around the screw shell. A

center contact 66 is disposed on the bottom of the recess 62 and is provided with a bent end 61 resting in a groove 68 formed in the wall of the housing. The center contact 66 is provided with a bearing surface 69 which makes slidable engagement with the conducting ring 34. In this manner the center contact 66 is electrically connected to the conducting ring 34 and through the medium of the conducting pin 23 to the cen- Similarly, a conducting member or ear I0 is seated within a slot ,II in the-wall of the recess and is provided with a bearing surface I2 adapted to engage one of th turned-in edges 6| of the screw shell. The other end of the conducting ear is provided with a bearing surface I3 adapted toengage the conducting ring 35. In this manner thesc'rew shell 64 is placed in electrical engagement with the conducting ring 35 and through the medium of the conducting ring 53 and strip 25 with the screw shell I6. An insulating washer I4 having an opening I5 for receiving the center contact 66 is placed beneath the projecting abutments 65 and holds 'the screw shell 60 in mounted position on the receptacle body 56 and in tight frictional engagement with the bearing surface I2 of the "conducting ear I6.

In assembling the device, the conducting rings are first placed withinthe recesses in the insulating members of the-annulus and these mem bers are placed around the conducting ring 53; the two-part receptacle hcusing is simultaneously assembled around the insulating members with the bearing surfaces 69 and 13 in engagement with the conducting rings. This assembly is then mounted on the plug base by means of the locking rings 43 with the ear 50 and conducting ring 53 making contact with the conducting pin 23 and conducting strip 25, respectively, in the manner indicated. In thisway the receptacle I4 is electrically connected to the plug base. The two parts of the annulus are held together by the receptacle l4 and'the locking rings 43.

It will be seen thatthe receptacle [4 may be moved around the periphery of the annulus to any angular position and the bearing elements 69 and I3 will at all times make contact withthe conducting rings 34 and 35, so that the contact elements ofthe. receptacle are continuously electrically connected to the, contact elements of the plug base. The conducting members 6-! and I0 move within the space 39 provided between the outer edges of-the insulating elements of the annulus. Inasmuch as the conducting rings 34 and 35 are set back into the recesses of the insulating members, there is no danger of any accidental contact being made with them since they are well protected within the annulus.

Figs. and 6 illustrate the wide range of angular movement through which the receptacle H may be moved relative to the plug base 12. It will be seen from an examination of Fig. 5 that the receptacle may be moved through an angleof approximately 180 degrees around the outer periphery of the annulus. Manifestly, the degree of angular movement may be increased by enlarging the annulus relative to the plug base so that-the portion of the periphery which is used to attach the annulus to the plug base constitutes only a small portion of the total circumference of the annulus. It will likewise be apparent from an examination of Fig. 6 that the annulus and its attached receptacle may be rotated through an angle of 360 degrees. In fact, the annulus may be rotated continuously upon the plug base without in the least affecting its electrical connection with the plug base. This is of advantage because there are no wires or other connecting means to become twisted or dislocated by continuous rotation of these elements.

While the structure thus far described calls for a single receptacle to be mounted on the annulus, it should be manifest that a plurality of such receptacles may be mounted thereon, and that each one may be movable independently of the other and, yet, at the same time, will be in electrical connection with the plug base. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 7 in which two receptacles are illustrated as being mounted on the annulus. By increasing the diameter of the annulus to make room for the receptacle bodies the number to be mounted on the annulus may be increased at will. In this way each receptacle is movable independently of the other in a plurality of diverse planes.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an adapter for electric lamps or the like, a plug base having contacts for electrical connection with an electric device, a substantially annular supporting member mounted on said base and having conducting portions electrically connected to said base contacts, and a plurality of receptacles slidably mounted on said member. side by side, and each being electrically connected to said conducting portions, said receptacles being movable along said member independently of each other to various angular positions with respect to said base.

2. In an adapter, a plug base having contacts for electrical connection with an electric device, a substantially annular supporting member mounted on said base for rotation in a horizontal plane, said member having conducting portions electrically connected to said base contacts, and a plurality of receptacles slidably mounted on said member side by side and each being electrisaid receptacle being movable along the periphery of said annulus to any position through an angle of substantially 180 degrees in a vertical plane, said annulus being rotatably mounted on said base for rotation in a horizontal plane whereby said receptacle may be moved to any position through an angle of substantially 360 degrees.

4. In an adapter, a plug base having contacts for electrical connection with an electric device, an annulus mounted on said base in an upstanding position in a substantially vertical plane, said annulus being provided with conductors electrically connected to said plug contacts, and a plurality of receptacles each being slidably mounted on said annulus and each being electrically connected to said conductors, said receptacles being movable independently of each other along .the periphery of said annulus to any position through an angle of substantially 180 degrees in a vertical plane, said annulus being rotatably mounted on said base for rotation in a horizontal plane whereby said receptacles may be moved simultaneously to any position through an angle of substantially 360 degrees.

5. In combination, a plug base having contact means for connection to an electrical device, an annulus rotatably mounted on said base for rotation in a horizontal plane, a plurality of conducting rings mounted in spaced relation on said annulus and being electrically connected to the contact means of said plug, and a receptacle slidably mounted on said annulus and having conducting members slidably engaging said conducting rings.

6. In combination, a plug base having a screw shell and a center contact for connection to an electrical device, said base being provided with a recess, an annulus rotatably mounted on edge within said recess, a plurality of conducting rings mounted in spaced relation on said annulus, means electrically connecting said conducting rings to said screw shell contact and a receptacle slidably mounted on said annulus, said receptacle having a screw shell and center contact each being provided with slider elements in contact with said conducting rings.

7. In combination, a plug base having a screw shell and a center contact for connection to an electrical device, said base being provided with a recess on the side opposite said center contact, a two-part annulus rotatably mounted on a portion of its periphery within said recess, a conducting ring mounted in each part of said annulus, means electrically connecting'said conducting rings to said screw shell and center contact, and a receptacle slidably mounted on said annulus, said receptacle having a screw shell and center contact each being provided with slider elements in contact with said conducting rings and moving in a space between the parts of said annulus.

8. In combination; a plug base having a screw shell and a center contact for connection to an electrical device, said base being provided with a circular recess on the side opposite said center contact, an annulus provided with a circular shoulder in a portion of the periphery thereof, said shoulder being seated in said recess for rotatably mounting said annulus on said plug base, a plurality of conducting rings mounted in spaced relation on said annulus, means electrically connecting said conducting rings to said screw shell and center contact, and a receptacle slidably mounted on said annulus, said receptacle having a screw shell and center contact,

each being provided with slider elements in contion of the periphery thereof, said shoulder be-,

ing seated in said recess for rotatably mounting said annulus on said base, a plurality of conducting rings insulated from one another and mounted on said annulus, means electrically connecting said conducting rings to the respective contact means of said plug base, and a receptacle slidably mounted on said annulus and being provided with slider elements in contact with said conducting rings for electrically interconnecting said receptacle and plug base.

10. In combination, a plug base having a screw shell and a center contact for connection to an electrical device, said base being provided with a circular recess therein, a two-part annulus provided with a circular shoulder in a portion of the periphery thereof, said shoulder being located in said recess rotatably to support said annulus on said base, a conducting ring mounted in each part of said annulus, means electrically connecting said conducting rings to said'screw shell and center contact, and a receptacle slidably mounted on said annulus, said receptacle having a screw shell and center contact each beingprovided.

shoulder in a portion of the periphery thereof,

said shoulder being located in said recess rotatably to support said annulus on said base, a conducting ring mounted ineach part. of said annulus, means electrically connecting said conducting rings to said contact means, a two-part receptacle being joined together around the periphery of said annulus for slidable movement thereon, said receptacle having a screw shell and center contact each being provided with slider elements in contact with said conducting rings *and moving in a space between the parts of said annulus. q

12. In combination, a plug base having a screw shell and a center contact for connectionto an electrical device, said base being provided with a recess on the side opposite said center contact, an annulus rotatably mounted on edge within said recess, a plurality of conducting rings mounted on said annulus and being insulated from one another, each of said rings being provided with an ear extending into said recess, means engaging said ears and being electrically connected to said screw shell and center contact for placing said conducting rings in electrical connection with the screw shell and center contact irrespective of the degree of rotation of said annulus on said base, and a receptacle slidably mounted on said annulus and being provided with slider elements in contact with said conducting rings.

13. In an adapter for electric lamps, a fixed support having electrical conducting means mounted thereon, a substantially annular supporting member pivotally mounted on said support and having conducting elements electrically connected to said conducting means, and a receptacle sidably mounted'on said annular member and being electrically connected to said sup porting elements, said receptacle being movabie along the perimeter of said annular member to various angular positions with respect to said fixed support.

14. In combination, a fixed support having electrical conducting means mounted thereoman annulus rotatably mounted on said support for rotation in a horizontal plane, a plurality of conducting rings mounted in spaced relation on said annulus and being electrically connected to,

said conducting means, and a receptacle slidably mounted on said annulus and having conducting members slidably engaging said conducting rings. FRANKD. BRYANT.

WILLIAM R. YOUNG. 

